Nucella analoga (Forbes, 1852) *It has been proposed that this is a separate species than Nucella canaliculata and would be called Nucella analoga. This shell has tightly packed spiral cords which are not as prominently projecting as N. canaliculata.
The interspaces are not angular and are filled with secondary
cords. It exhibits the same range of color patterns. While
the two overlap in a large part of their range, N. analoga extends from California to southern Alaska and N. canaliculata
would exist from Washington to northern Alaska. Previous DNA studies
only included specimens from California to Washington. The two
may also prefer different habitats. They also get confused with N. lima. Further research is needed to determine which shell forms belong to which species. (synonyms - Purpura analoga, Thais canaliculata var. compressa)

Nucella canaliculata (Duclos, 1832)Channeled Dogwinkle *intertidal
central California to northern Alaska
size to 40mmThis is common to
find. The shell may be a uniform gray-brown or brightly striped
with orange, yellow or white. It has strong spiral cording with
varying degrees of spacing between them. The interspaces between
the cords are sharply angular. (previous names - Thais canaliculata, Purpura canaliculata)

Nucella lamellosa (Gmelin, 1791)Frilled Dogwinkle *intertidal to 10m size to 12.5cmsouthern California to northern AlaskaThis
is very commonly found intertidally. It is highly variable in
color, shape and sculpturing. These factors vary with habitat.
The shells may be smooth to highly frilled, drab and gray
to white, orange, purple or brightly striped. Where rock crabs
are evident, the shells become thick and heavy to avoid being eaten by
the crabs. In some areas their spires are very elongated. Large
clusters of their eggs are often seen in spring and early summer.(synonyms - Thais lamellosa, Thais lamellosa cymica, Thais lamellosa hormica, Thais lamellosa franciscana, Thais lamellosa neptunea, Thais lamellosa sitkana, Buccinum lamellosa, Purpura crispata)

photographed intertidally
with eggs

photographed intertidally
with eggs

Ocenebra inornata (Récluz, 1851)Japanese Oyster Drillintertidal
Japan; introduced to BC, Washington
& California size to 50mmThis
is common where there are populations of it, but it is not widespread
to every beach. It primarily preys on oysters and is considered
invasive and very detrimental to the oyster industry. The shell
can be variable. It can have low to moderate flaring of the
vertical ribs. The color is usually white to drab gray but there
are populations of it that exhibit yellows to orange to pink colors
also and it can be quite pretty and have sizeable varix flares.
The siphonal canal may be slightly open to completely closed.(synonyms - Ocinebrellus inornatus, Ceratostoma inornatum, Ocinebrina inornata, Ocenebra japonica)

Ocinebrina atropurpurea (Carpenter, 1865)Purple Rocksnailintertidal to 30m size to 12mmnorthern Mexico to northern BCThis
is rarely seen intertidally in our area. The shell has prominent
crosshatch sculpturing. The color may be white to purplish-brown.
Some references list this as a synonym of O. interfossa.(previous name - Ocenebra atropurpurea)

close-up of eggs

photographed intertidally

Ocinebrina interfossa (Carpenter, 1864)Sculptured Rocksnail *intertidal to 100m size to 25mmnorthern Mexico to AlaskaThis
is commonly found intertidally. The shell sculpture is somewhat
variable, from prominent to somewhat muted. The color may be
light brown to dark purplish-brown. The inside of the aperture is
usually dark.(synonyms - Ocenebra interfossa, Tritonalia interfossa, Ocenebra clathrata, Ocenebra fraseri)

photographed intertidally
photographed subtidally

Ocinebrina lurida (Middendorff, 1849)Lurid Rocksnail *intertidal
to 200m northern Mexico to central
Alaska size to 40mmThis is
commonly found intertidally. The color ranges from yellow to orange to brown. The shell exhibits even spiral cords.
It also has widely spaced vertical ribbing which may be almost
absent to distinct. Usually the vertical ribs are evident on at
least the early whorls.(synonyms - Ocenebra lurida, Urosalpinx lurida, Tritonalia lurida, Tritonium luridum, Ocenebra rotunda)

Nucella lima (Gmelin, 1791)File Dogwinkleintertidal
to subtidal northern BC to northern
Alaska size to 50mmThis is fairly
common to find in Alaska, but very difficult to find in BC. There
is much confusion surrounding this species as to how variable it might
be. Many photos of it are actually N. canaliculata, or potentially N. analoga.
The classic form of this shell is a short spire and very tall
aperture. It may be bland in color or striped in yellow or white.
Our photo is of specimens in SE Alaska. More study needs to
be done on this species.(previous name - Thais lima)

Nucella ostrina (Gould, 1852)Northern Striped Dogwinkle *intertidal
northern California to northern
Alaska size to 40mmThis is very
commonly found. The shell is highly variable. It typically
has a short spire and tall aperture compared to the height of the
shell. The spire height can vary also. The shell has spiral
ribs which may or may not be pronounced. In some areas, the shell
also exhibits "frills" on the ribs. Color varies from solid to
striped, and may be white to orange to brown to black. Its eggs
are more stubby looking than those of the other Nucellas. This
species was once called Nucella emarginata,
but that is now considered a separate species and occurs from about
southern Oregon to northern Mexico. Where the ranges overlap, it
is extremely difficult to tell the shells apart.

photographed intertidally (very low tide)

Scabrotrophon maltzani(Kobelt & Kuster, 1878)intertidal to 1000m size to 50mmnorthern Mexico to northern AlaskaThis
is rarely found intertidally. The shell has spiral cords and
axial ridges with a tall spire and a very long aperture, which give it
an overall slender appearance.(synonyms - Trophon maltzani, Nipponotrophon maltzani,Trophonopsis lasius, Trophonopsis tenuisculptus, Trophon subserratus)

Ocinebrina sclera (Dall, 1919)Sclera Rocksnailvery low intertidal to subtidal size to at least 42.6mmcentral California to northern BCThis
is very rarely seen intertidally and then only on an exceptional low
tide on the outer coast. The shell has even spiral cords and
widely spaced vertical cords. The color may be orange to brown.
It is similar in appearance to O. lurida, but has a wider body whorl and deeper suture lines.(previous name - Ocenebra sclera, Urosalpinx sclera)

egg cases

Urosalpinx cinerea Say, 1822Atlantic Oyster Drillintertidal to 15m size to 43mmnorthern Florida to southern Canada; introduced from central California to southern BC in oyster bedsIt can be common where introduced, near commercial oyster production in river estuaries.

with eggs
close-up of eggs

Ceratostoma foliatum (Gmelin, 1791)Leafy Hornmouth *intertidal to 65m size to 10cmsouthern California to central AlaskaThis
is fairly common to find intertidally. The juveniles exhibit
crosshatch sculpturing. The axial ribs grow to large flares as it
matures. The adults may be plain white to purplish and may be
striped. At the base of the aperture there is a projecting tooth.
It lays a distinctive egg case.(previous names - Pterorytis foliatus, Purpura foliatum, Murex foliatum)